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Sylweriusz M. Królak - Bangkok |
Mister Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. First of all, please let me express how honoured I am to attend this remarkable event. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the organizers of the XI Congress and especially to the authorities of the host country for their massive effort in organising this exceptional forum.
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am convinced that we must fight every aspect of crime with every strength and every accessible measure at our disposal. I am equally convinced that - unfortunately - crime has reached unacceptable level. We can also observe links between transnational organized crime, terrorism as well as corruption. With increase in the range of crimes committed in organized form, many of the traditional legal instruments may no longer be sufficient to meet today's challenges. Today, law enforcement can be effective only if it has the solid support of both: modern national legislation and international instruments and arrangements. The legal framework for new style co-operation has been created by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime developed at Poland's initiative. Poland was among the first countries to ratify this Convention, and is also a party to the three additional protocols thereof.
3. Just recently, we have received yet another modern tool to fight against crime: the UN Convention against Corruption. Poland actively participated in negotiations of this Convention and signed it on 10 December 2003. Since the fight against corruption is one of the main priorities of the Polish government, ratification and implementation of this Convention is now our most important and immediate task. At every stage of our legislative work, we take great care to ensure that we meet the anti-corruption standards stemming from the United Nations' and other international organizations' instruments. In order to implement these standards, Poland has amended its Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. Poland criminalized the active and passive bribery of not only national but also foreign public officials as well as corruption in the private sector. The principles of the liability of legal persons defining the criminal responsibility of legal entities for crimes and financial offences, as well as the procedure for proceeding against such legal entities have been introduced into the Polish legal system. Poland has also amended its banking laws so that when executing a request of a foreign state authority for Mutual Legal Assistance, information that is otherwise protected by bank secrecy may now be disclosed.
4. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would also like to underline that Poland has paid particular attention to the United Nations' standards in the field of administration of justice. For several years, Poland has systematically carried out profound judicial reform. The lengthiness of proceedings and difficulties in the enforcement of judgements caused and, to some degree, still cause several problems for the administration of justice. Therefore, legal amendments aimed at simplifying and accelerating court proceedings have been introduced including elements of restorative justice.
5. Ladies and Gentlemen, last but not least, I would like to mention one of the largest threats of present world: terrorism. It is beyond doubt that success of fight against terrorism, including terrorism of international nature, depends on the anti-terrorist measures undertaken both at national and international levels. However, even the most engaged co-operation, if deprived of institutional structures which international organizations ensure, would have limited effectiveness. In this context, the role of the United Nations in creating international mechanisms such as Counter-Terrorism Committee, which allow coordinating and monitoring the efforts of individual states in the fight against terrorism, is extremely important. Poland also fully supports the work of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime and reiterates its readiness to cooperate with the Office and assist it in achieving its goals.
6. Finally I would like to stress that Poland strongly believes that the debate that takes place here - during the Congress - will allow us - the UN community - to identify the main problems requiring our immediate response and that the Bangkok Declaration will indicate the main goals to be achieved in the nearest future.
I thank you for your attention.
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